Which Degree is Right for You? MBA or MSHRA
When it comes to furthering your business career, you’ll find a variety of paths to choose from. Investing in yourself by obtaining an MBA online is a great way to ensure a rewarding and lucrative career, but should you get an MBA in HR management or a Master’s of Science in Human Resource Analytics?
Read on to discover the differences between these graduate degrees and which would work best for your career goals to achieve your dreams in the world of business.
Differences Between an MBA and MSHRA
What are the basics of each degree, and what are the benefits of completing one designation over the other? Here’s a crash course in signing up for MBA online programs vs. going for your Master’s.
- Think of an MBA in HR management or business as a generalized business degree. Online MBA programs offer versatile instruction that you can implement within various career objectives. And, many universities that offer an online degree in business also feature specializations so you can hone in on the skills you require, such as human resources, people analytics, business analytics, finance, marketing, or project management, to name a few.
- Working towards your MSHRA degree involves a more narrow, concentrated approach to human resources. Instead of just taking some specific courses in HR when going for your MBA in HR management, you’ll get a full courseload relating to human resources analytics and management when you aim for your Master’s in this field. This can better prepare you for moving up the HR career ladder, specifically if you’re interested in growing your career options with higher-level positions.
- When you’re looking to pick between these two degrees, they are both useful in different ways, but ultimately, it will come down to what career goals you have in mind, both short-term and long-term. While an MBA in business or an MBA in HR management can teach you how to strategize, manage, and analyze HR objectives, an MSHRA can effectively position you to take on leadership roles that include or require the application of modern HR Analytics techniques
Career Options With an MBA or MSHRA
While obtaining an MBA online or MSHRA significantly improves your chances of landing a dream job with many upward mobility options, you’ll need to think critically about exactly what you’d like to do with your degree before selecting just the right program. Think about where your passion lies and how you can channel that into the career you desire.
With an MBA in HR management, you can go into:
- HR consulting
- Employee relations
- HR training and development
- Technical or executive recruiting
- HR consulting
- General HR mamagement
These are fulfilling objectives you can enjoy getting into with a more generalized MBA business degree and a concentration in HR. While this is a flexible degree, it may lack the narrow scope that the MSHRA will provide if you’re interested in focusing on HR. However, it will enable you to develop broad, necessary skills to work in people analytics, such as problem-solving, which could be useful in any business, regardless of whether you are planning a career in HR.
Nonetheless, when you procure your MSHRA degree, you are aiming for a long-term career in HR that will allow you jobs including:
- HR Analyst
- HR Director
- Workforce planning Manager
- Industrial Relations Director
- Organizational Development director
- Compensation or Benefits Specialist
If people are your passion, then going for your online degree in business can give you a leg up on the competition and drive you toward your ultimate career goal with a more tailored approach to human resources that a more general MBA in HR management would get you.
Perks of Choosing a Business Degree
Though a Bachelor’s degree has benefits, there are numerous reasons to go further and obtain your graduate degree, whether you opt for an MBA online or your MSHRA certification. Here are a few more reasons to go for it — most advanced degrees can be finished in as little as 24 months, so why wait?
- Higher salary potential – experienced, degreed HR professionals can earn six figures (the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics states that advanced executives can earn almost $200,000!), with an average salary in the $70k range. This is also dependent upon the company you work for. But with in-demand skills, your talents will make you stand out, and you will be compensated for your knowledge.
- More career options available – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the field of HR will grow by 6% in the next year. There are also many job choices, whether you love being a leader or enjoy being involved with shaping and helping people on a daily basis. Every company requires HR professionals, so select the place that really speaks to you.
- More doors open to you – A graduate degree makes it easier to get your foot in the door. Your skills are valuable, and your resume will quickly go to the top of any recruiter’s pile with advanced knowledge provided by an MBA or MSHRA degree.
Don’t wait to start getting ahead now — make plans to begin a successful future when you enroll in a graduate program or online MBA program designed to propel you to the top.